The
River From The Temple
The
man brought me back to the Entrance to the Temple,
And
I saw water coming out from under the Threshold of the Temple
Toward
the east (for the Temple faced east).
The
water coming down from under the south side of the Temple,
South
of the Altar.
2
He then brought me out through the north Gate
A
led me around the outside to the Outer Gate facing east,
And
the water was flowing from the south side.
3
As the man went eastward with a measuring line in his hand,
He
measured off a thousand cubits
And
then led me through water that was Ankle-deep.
4
He measured off another thousand cubits
And
led me through water that was Knee-deep.
He
measured off another thousand
And
led me through water that was up to the Waist.
5
He measure off another thousand,
but
now it was a River that I could not cross,
Because
the water had risen and was Deep enough to swim in-
A
River that no one could cross.
6
He asked me,
'Son
of man, do you see this?'
Then
he led me back to the bank of the River.
7
When I arrived there,
I
saw a great number of trees on each side of the River.
8
He said to me,
'This
water flows toward the eastern region
And
goes down into the Arabah,
Where
it empties into the Sea (the dead Sea),
THE
WATER THERE BECOMES FRESH.
9
SWARMS OF LIVING CREATURES WILL LIVE
WHEREVER THE RIVER FLOWS.
There
will be large numbers of fish,
Because
this water flows there
AND
MAKE THE SALT WATER FRESH;
SO
WHERE THE RIVER FLOWS EVERYTHING WILL LIVE.
10
Fishermen will stand along the shore;
From
En Gedi to En Eglaim there will be places for spreading nets.
The
fish will be of many kinds--
Like
the fish of the Great Sea (the Mediterranean).
11
But the swamps and marshes will not become fresh;
They
will be left for salt.
12
Fruit trees of all kinds will grow on both banks of the River.
Their
leaves will not wither,
Nor
will their fruit fail.
EVERY
MONTH THEY WILL BEAR,
BECAUSE
THE WATER FROM THE SANCTUARY FLOWS TO THEM.
THEIR
FRUIT WILL SERVE FOR FOOD
AND
THEIR LEAVES FOR HEALING.'
The
Boundaries Of The Land
13
THIS IS WHAT THE SOVEREIGN LORD SAYS:
'These
are the Boundaries by which you are to divide the Land
For
the Inheritance among the Twelve Tribes of Israel,
With
two portions for Joseph.
14
You are to divide it equally among them.
BECAUSE
I SWORD WITH UPLIFTED HAND
TO
GIVE IT TO YOUR FOREFATHERS,
THIS
LAND WILL BECOME YOUR INHERITANCE.
15
'This is to be the Boundary of the Land:
'On
the north side it will run from the Great Sea
By
the Hethlon Road past Lebo Hamath to Zedad,
16
Berothah and Sibraim
(Which
lies on the border between Damascus and Hamath),
As
fr as hazer Hatticon, which is on the border of Hauran.
17
The Boundary will extend from the sea to Hazar Enan,
Along
the northern border of Damascus,
With
the border of Hamath to the north.
This
will be the north boundary.
18
'On the east side the boundary will run between Hauran and Damascus,
Along
the Jordan between Gilead and the land of Israel,
To
the eastern sea and as far as Tamar.
This
will be the east boundary.
19
On the south side it will run from Tamar
As
far as the waters of Meribah Kadesh,
Then
along the Wadi of Egypt to the Great Sea.
This
will be the south boundary.
20
'On the west side, the Great Sea will be the boundary
To
a point opposite Lebo Hamath.
This
will be the west boundary.
21
You are to distribute this land among yourselves
According
to the Tribes of Israel.
22
You are to allot it as an Inheritance for yourselves
And
for the Aliens who have settled among you
And
who have children.
YOU
ARE TO CONSIDER THEM AS NATIVE-BORN ISRAELITES;
Along
with you they are to be allotted and Inheritance
Among
the Tribes of Israel.
23
IN WHATEVER TRIBE THE ALIEN SETTLES,
THERE
YOU ARE TO GIVE HIM HIS INHERITANCE,'
DECLARES
THE SOVEREIGN LORD.
(Ezekiel
47)
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